Chang Kyung-Sup Knihy

The book explores South Korea's journey through postcolonial transformation, highlighting the emergence of a unique modernity characterized by a transformation-oriented state, society, and citizenry. It examines how each societal change becomes a fundamental goal, shaping the sociopolitical landscape and influencing social identity. The narrative delves into the development of a distinct mode of citizenship that reflects these ongoing transformations, providing insights into the relationship between modernity and identity in contemporary South Korean society.

Most theories of modernity focus on Western societies' development since the late medieval period, limiting their applicability to Asian societies where modernization occurred under different circumstances and often rapidly. In this context, Asian societies have experienced a "compressed modernity" characterized by distinct traits. The author provides a systematic examination of this phenomenon, particularly in South Korea and other East Asian societies, highlighting the extreme social changes, complexities, and imbalances that have emerged. While South Korea's rapid modernization has led to significant economic growth, it has also resulted in various developmental and civilizational challenges, including generational conflicts, heavy family burdens, and alarmingly high suicide rates. The South Korean "miracle" is marked by extreme and contradictory social characteristics, reflecting the unique nature of compressed modernity. This pioneering work explores the implications of compressed modernity and will captivate students and scholars in sociology, politics, and development studies, as well as those interested in South Korea, Asia, and postcolonial contexts.